The AI in Business Podcast

Today’s guest is Joe Gelman, Platform Marketing Manager at Riskified. Riskified is a publicly traded SaaS company that specializes in fraud and chargeback prevention. Joe joins us to talk about the evolving landscape of fraud prevention for retail and eCommerce. As the holiday season approaches, with forecasts projecting $240 billion in U.S. online shopping, merchants face increasing challenges balancing customer-friendly policies with the risk of policy abuse and sophisticated fraud schemes. Joe explains how the pandemic reshaped consumer behavior, normalizing liberal return policies but also creating opportunities for fraud. He highlights how policy abuse—such as repeat returns or fake claims—differs from more organized fraud operations manipulating shipping systems or repackaging defective products. This episode is sponsored by Riskified. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1.

Today’s guest is Juan Ferres, Corporate Vice President and Chief Data Scientist at Microsoft. Juan returns to the program to explore how to win buy-in for sustainable AI projects. As a leader in the AI4G Lab and author of the new book AI for Good, Juan shares insights on navigating complex digital transformations, particularly when it comes to initiatives where the return on investment is philosophical rather than immediately measurable. Throughout the episode, Juan and Emerj Senior Editor Matthew DeMello discuss the challenges of managing up and driving forward AI innovations that aim to benefit society as a whole. If you’re interested in unlocking our AI best practice guides, frameworks for AI ROI, and specific resources for AI leaders, visit emerj.com/p1.

Today’s guest is Luke van der Waals, Demand-to-Deliver Value Stream Owner at SLB. SLB is a global technology company driving energy innovation for a balanced planet. They are the largest offshore drilling company by revenue as of 2022 and were ranked 349th largest company globally by the Forbes Global 2000 list that same year. Luke joins us on today’s show to explore the evolving complexities of global supply chains and procurement. He shares insights on the challenges of maintaining resilience amid geopolitical tensions, inflation, and post-pandemic disruptions—especially in the energy sector. Luke also offers a candid look at how global conflicts amplify supply chain risks and emphasizes the importance of balancing local sourcing with global constraints to control costs and ensure seamless operations. This episode is sponsored by Arkestro. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1.

Today’s guest is Chloe Rice, Director of Global Customer Experience at Shutterstock. Shutterstock is a New York-based provider of stock photography, stock footage, stock music, and editing tools with a library of nearly 200 million royalty-free stock photos. Chloe joins us to explore the rapidly changing landscape of media and the role AI plays in shaping customer interactions. Throughout the episode, Chloe shares her insights on the emerging trends in customer experience, from the ethical use of AI to building transparent policies that ensure authenticity across all content channels. To access Emerj’s frameworks for AI readiness, ROI, and strategy, visit Emerj Plus at emerj.com/p1.

Today’s guest is Ermir Qeli, Head of Data Science in AI at Swiss Re. Ermir returns to the program to discuss strategies for gaining executive buy-in and scaling AI within the insurance industry. Throughout the discussion, Ermir highlights the role of data infrastructure, particularly for legacy institutions, in ensuring that data is clean, structured, and distributed effectively across the enterprise. He also delves into how change management is crucial for driving AI adoption, emphasizing the need for collaboration from day one, upskilling teams, and building trust in the technology from the beginning. Download our PDF brief “AI in Insurance: Executive Cheat Sheet” at emerj.com/ins1.

Today’s guest is Paulo Ruy, Head of Terminal Procurement for Latin America at A.P. Moeller-Maersk. A.P. Møller–Maersk, a Danish shipping and logistics company with over 100 years of history, is a publicly traded family business. In 2023, the company generated $51.1 billion USD in revenue and was ranked by Forbes as the 174th largest public company globally. Paulo joins host Matthew DeMello to explore the complexities of global shipping and procurement. Their conversation provides critical insights into how geopolitical conflicts, such as the Ukraine war and Red Sea challenges, are impacting global supply chains and contributing to inflation. Throughout the episode, Paulo discusses the need for flexibility in contract negotiations and the ongoing shift in shipping routes. To discover more AI use cases, best practice guides, white papers, frameworks, and more, join Emerj Plus at emerj.com/p1.

Today’s guest is Frédéric Rivain, CTO of Dashlane. Dashlane is a password manager and digital wallet app, available through subscription, designed for macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android platforms. Frédéric joins Emerj Senior Editor Matthew DeMello on the program today to examine trends in how AI is reshaping the cybersecurity landscape, presenting both significant risks and opportunities for enterprises. As AI tools become more sophisticated, they are changing the dynamics of cybersecurity — from automating complex attacks to enhancing defense strategies. This episode is sponsored by Pieces. To learn more about Emerj Media and how to reach the Emerj audience, visit emerj.com/ad1.

Today’s guest is Matthias Steinberg, Chief Financial Officer of MindBridge Analytics. MindBridge is a software company that has developed an AI-powered risk and anomaly detection platform at the cutting edge of accounting and financial service workflows, driving deep business insights in the process. Matthias joins us in today’s program to talk about the trouble that financial professionals face across industries when adopting AI. Later, we touch on the difference between short- and long-term ROI as we see more support for automation across finance teams in every kind of enterprise. This episode is sponsored by MindBridge Analytics. Find out more about sponsored content and how to engage with the Emerj audience at emerj.com/ad1.

Today’s guest is Ylan Kazi, Chief Data and AI Officer at Blue Cross Blue Shield North Dakota. Ylan returns to the program today to surmise the progress in new generative AI tools and LLMs over the past two years. We examine the new challenges they pose in the healthcare industry. With ChatGPT and similar tools gaining traction, what strategic shifts are needed for data management and utilization? We explore how healthcare leaders can navigate these emerging challenges, leverage data strategies, and adapt to the evolving landscape. Visit emerj.com/beg1 to learn more about the practical steps for AI deployment for non-technical professionals. 

Today’s guest is Nate Bell, Corporate Functions Business Data Leader at Wells Fargo. Nate joins us on today’s show to discuss the growing role of AI in the financial services sector, focusing on reconciling infrastructure investment with innovative use cases. With a unique vantage point from the data side, Nathaniel explores three main challenges in data management: the cost of good data management, navigating new AI-related risks, and the complexities of anthropomorphizing AI. These issues, he explains, can lead to misconceptions both within management and in customer-facing environments, where AI’s “people-pleasing” capabilities are often misunderstood. To discover more AI use cases, best practice guides, white papers, frameworks, and more, join Emerj Plus at emerj.com/p1.

Today’s guest is Stephanie McReynolds, Vice President of Product and Portfolio Marketing at OneTrust. OneTrust is a security and privacy platform provider with over 12,000 employees and a $5 billion valuation established to address the growing need for compliance with emerging internet privacy regulations and laws. Stephanie joins us on the program today to delve into the barriers businesses face in AI adoption and the critical data challenges that need to be addressed to successfully implement AI systems. She shares insights on the recent EU AI Act that came into effect on August 2, 2024, and what businesses must consider to comply with these new regulations. This episode is sponsored by OneTrust. To learn more about Emerj Media and how to reach the Emerj audience, visit emerj.com/ad1.

  Today’s guest is Aman Thind, Chief Architect at State Street. He joins us in the program today to talk about practical applications of AI across asset management workflows and what advanced generative technologies will mean for the sector in the long term. Throughout the program, Aman makes a finer point about the possibilities for content generation, administration, and data governance as these technologies advance in the coming years. This episode is sponsored by Deloitte. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1.  

Today’s guest is Urvashi Tyagi, Advisor and Former CTO at ResMed. Urvashi joins us on today’s podcast with Emerj Senior Matthew DeMello to discuss the unique challenges healthcare leaders face in driving software development efficiencies for medical devices and customer-facing mobile applications. As the med tech industry strives to balance innovation with regulatory compliance, many companies find themselves navigating complex approval processes that can delay product launches and stifle progress. This episode is sponsored by Pieces. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1.

Today’s guest is Ylan Kazi, Chief Data and AI Officer at Blue Cross Blue Shield North Dakota. Ylan joins us on today’s program to discuss the complexities faced by leaders in legacy industries, such as healthcare, as they navigate the balance between infrastructure investments in cloud technologies and end-point storage to meet business goals. Throughout the episode, Ylan shares insights on developing a robust business strategy for cloud migration, highlighting common pitfalls like cost overruns and outdated mindsets. This episode is sponsored by MinIO. Find out more about sponsored content and how to engage with the Emerj audience at emerj.com/ad1.

Today’s guest is Steve Jones, Executive Vice President of Data Driven Business & GenAI at Capgemini. Together with Emerj Senior Editor Matthew DeMello, Steve joins us on today’s program to examine the evolving landscape of AI development and the critical need for trust and ethical guardrails in deploying AI systems across enterprises. Drawing on insights from a recent VentureBeat event focused on AI transformation, Steve shares his perspective on the state of AI and the challenges that lie ahead. This episode is sponsored by Capgemini. To learn more about Emerj Media and how to reach the Emerj audience, visit emerj.com/ad1.